There are many reasons that hunters use to justify their lust for blood all of which are just to detract from the fact that these people enjoy and get a thrill from seeing an animal brutally killed.

One of the most used reasons for fox hunting is that it is pest control however, the amount of foxes killed through hunting is nothing compared to the numbers in which the foxes breed and therefore it does nothing to control the numbers. It is also pretty inefficient to get a dozen or more people on horseback, followed by a pack of dogs and an entourage of men with terrier dogs, all dressed up in fancy regalia and spend the day chasing a single fox to terrified exhaustion before killing it. It is also worth noting that when a fox is killed, a new fox moves into the territory within 3-4 days of its death.

If during this “pest control”, having faced the terror of being chased and potential injuries, the fox manages to escape into a hole, it is then dug out by the “terrier men” while their dogs rip and bite at the fox where it will be shot as many times as it takes to kill it and on occasion the fox is thrown to the waiting hounds to tear it to pieces. The foxes are supposed to be dispatched as quickly as possible with a quick bite to the neck or a single bullet, but in many cases examining vets have found that the foxes often suffer profound trauma. This is no way to control any pest. This is nothing more than a frightening lust for blood.

It should also be noted that these terriers often suffer serious injuries, mostly to the face, as the foxes, or more usually badgers, fight for survival and claw and bite in a vein attempt to protect themselves. There is no love for any animal involved from these people. One is quarry, the other is a commodity or a tool for the job.

Tradition is another excuse. The premise being it has been a way of life in the country for hundreds of years and therefore the right to continue the barbaric cruelty should be allowed to continue. Many atrocities throughout history were regarded as tradition or custom and practice, but as civilisation progressed, so did the attitudes of what was acceptable. Slavery was traditional. Female subservience was custom and practice. Tradition can never be a legitimate reason to continue with abhorrent practices.

Another form of fox hunting is “lamping” where hunters go out at night, with bright lamps and Lurcher breeds looking for foxes and rabbits. Again, there is no genuinely justifiable reason for this given that humane alternatives for the deterring of foxes exist and it comes down to revelling in the gore and violence. This is evident from the many local social media pages where they proudly display their conquests, some clearly having suffered horrendously and not in keeping with the current regulation.

It is claimed that the fox is vermin, but so are many other animals that do not suffer the same fate. It is also said that foxes, given the opportunity, will kill many chickens, lambs etc. but only take one and this is followed by the revenge killing justification – if a fox will do this it is evil and must be killed. The fox does this as it is an opportunistic predator, and if it sees small mammals it will do what its instinct tells it to and not through choice. It kills many at once with the intention of coming back when required to take what it needs, but more often than not it gets spooked, or killed, and doesn’t get the chance to return before the animals are removed. To kill a fox for this reason means you are singling out that particular fox and killing it to avenge not the deaths of the other animals, but the loss of profit from the people who were going to kill the animals themselves anyway. Along with humane deterrents, there is also better fencing available for those wanting to protect their livestock and while it may cost, in the long run it will save money as even if a fox is killed, another will follow shortly after and with the same results.

Many farmers detest hunters and see the value in the foxes place in the eco-system. It keeps the rabbit population down for example, saving crop farmers up to £7m per year. They also refuse to allow hunts on their land as they tear it up with the horses and hounds with little regard for anything other than the kill.

In the cities, you may hear the rare stories were an urban fox has went into a house and attacked a baby or small child, and this is also touted as a legitimate reason for killing them. In those scenarios, as with the livestock, the fox is seizing an opportunity to do what it naturally does. It does not see a baby – it sees a small mammal. It did not open the door and sneak in to attack the unattended child. The parents in these cases left the doors or windows open and left the child alone long enough to be attacked. You cannot blame the fox.

The pest control myth also falls down when items like those shown late last year on ITV News (link attached) where undercover footage recorded hunters going to areas to leave food out for the foxes and their cubs, encouraging them to breed and stay in the area so that they may hunt them at a later date. If you want to genuinely get rid of a pest, you do not entice it to linger for your amusement.

The fox feels the same pain and emotions as any other animals, humans included, so it isn’t too hard to imagine the feeling of being chased by a pack of blood thirsty animals (and their dogs) in sheer terror, running through injury and exhaustion, finding refuge deep underground only for that relief to be short lived as you are dug out to the chorus of a snarling dog with a gun pointed at you. The feeling of wondering when your mother will be returning after she went to get some food. The point of view of the fox cannot and should not be diminished or ignored. It is the only thing that matters.

All the above highlights the weakness in their arguments but while the alternative to it is to publicly admit they have no regard for sentient beings and get incredible enjoyment out of blood and gore. Northern Ireland is the only country within the UK that does not have a ban in place yet we wish to be seen as progressively thinking.

What the majority of the public want, is an outright ban, going further than our UK counterparts and tightening up any loopholes that allow these cruel acts to continue unpunished. Hunting may have had a place once, but that is no longer the case and as it is abundantly clear that the majority of the public feel that way, the pro-hunt brigade will be loud and noticed as they kick and scream like spoilt brats having their toys removed about how we don’t understand rural life, how the evil fox needs killed, how their right to tradition is being oppressed but this has been dismissed for too long.

People are no longer willing to accept the myths when the evidence is right in front of them. The time for an outright ban on hunting with dogs and snares is now. We call upon the NI Assembly to listen and act on the wishes of the majority and not the influence of the countryside mentalities that see animals as nothing more than things there for convenience and entertainment.

PRO-HUNT: The Countryside Alliance Ireland

In Northern Ireland we are fortunate to have rich and varied wildlife and a countryside that can sustain a high level of biodiversity. However, due to mankind’s influence over the generations, our wildlife needs to be managed carefully.

A lack of management threatens vulnerable populations, biodiversity, habitat conservation and the production of food. It is widely accepted that certain species have to be controlled and the question therefore is not whether management is undertaken, but how?

Hunting with dogs is recognised as the management method closest to that of our wildlife’s natural predators and is one of the most humane methods of vermin control.

Persons hunting with hounds throughout Northern Ireland undertake this job with the consent of farmers in the area and Countryside Alliance Ireland (CAI) encourages respectful and responsible behaviour whilst hunting.

Studies have been undertaken which show that hunting with dogs is a selective, non-wounding and natural method of managing wild mammals.

The hunting community in Northern Ireland contributes millions of pounds annually to the economy, both directly and indirectly through related businesses. This is a benefit that we as a country cannot afford to lose and indeed, would be foolish to not adequately recognise the value and input that hunters provide.

Another method of wildlife management that has also been called in to question is the use of snares in Northern Ireland. This is despite the introduction of the Snares Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 that came about as a result of the Wildlife and Natural Environment Act; which recognised the use of snares as a valuable tool and essential practice in responsible land management.

Snares are a humane, effective and indeed an essential part of pest control and CAI supports their continued use in Northern Ireland, under the strict conditions described in the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. (At the time of writing, subordinate legislation, the Snares Order (Northern Ireland) 2015, to introduce additional restrictions and requirements on the use of snares has been prepared by the Department.)

Snaring is subject to legal restrictions and when properly practised is an effective and humane form of pest control. Pest control is necessary in order to ensure that damage to game, wildlife and livestock by predation is reduced to acceptable levels, particularly at vulnerable times of the year e.g. nesting and lambing time.

Unfortunately, the people who are calling into question hunting and the use of snares are ignorant to the ways of the countryside.

However, CAI and other responsible country sports organisations shall continue to do everything in our power to continue to fight those that oppose our rural way of life.

A recent DARD document states that 37% of Northern Ireland’s population lives in a rural area. This population should be represented by politicians that understand the rural way of

life and the unique challenges that rural dwellers face. What we have to remember is that wildlife in itself is not civilised and neither should we endeavour to make it so.

CAI promotes responsible activities and as an active member of the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime in Northern Ireland (PAW NI) and Chair of the Poaching Sub Group, we work in partnership to reduce wildlife crime by raising awareness and promoting effective enforcement.